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Broncos rally behind Tim Tebow, but Chargers win 29-24

Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow runs for a 12-yard touchdown during the fourth quarter against San Diego. More photos.
(John Leyba, The Denver Post)

Hockey puck-sized red welts dotted the bare back of Denver's new starting quarterback.

The marks were not from the pounding Tim Tebow took in the Broncos' 29-24 loss to San Diego in an AFC West game played on a comfortably cool Sunday afternoon at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

"Acupuncture," Tebow said of the alternative treatment he received Friday afternoon on the recommendation of veteran safety Brian Dawkins. "Don't make too big a deal about it. It actually makes you feel good."

Has a Broncos loss ever felt so good?

The Broncos enter their bye week 1-4; the Chargers are 4-1. Yet, Broncos fans couldn't be more giddy about the final 11 games.

After two three-and-outs in his only two possessions in the third quarter, and one more empty possession in the fourth, Tebow was 1-of-5 passing for zero yards.

But with seemingly no hope of victory and time running down in the fourth quarter? That's when this "Tebow thing" turned into Tebow magic.

"He's a solid player, and he's only going to get better," Chargers linebacker Shaun Phillips said. "We prepared a little bit for him, but he still was able to make some plays. As long as we get the win, that's all that matters."

No it doesn't, Mr. Phillips. All that matters around here is Tebow.

Many fans want Tebow to play because they love him and his rambunctious style. The more rational observers wanted Tebow because the Broncos are 6-21 with Orton as their starter since Nov. 1, 2009.

Broncos cornerback Cassius Vaughn intercepts a Philip Rivers pass before returning it 55 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter against San Diego. More photos.
(AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

Tebow may be raw, but excitingly so. There is quarterbacking, and there is the way Tebow plays quarterback.

"It's about getting it done," Tebow said as he walked out of the virtually empty locker room. "It doesn't matter what it looks like. I know I have to get better at some things, but I promise you I will go to work."

Tebow finished up the Broncos' miserable 2010 season with three encouraging performances. The Broncos were set to give him the ball from the start this season, but a trade that would have sent Orton to the Miami Dolphins on the eve of training camp fell through over contract details.

When it became apparent Tebow badly missed the offseason instruction he ordinarily would have received if not for the NFL lockout, it was decided he needed more time. On the Broncos went with Orton, who played well in the preseason, but the suffocating Tebow controversy seemed to gradually eat at his confidence.

With the Chargers ahead 23-10 at halftime, and Orton having posted a miserable 21.0 passer rating, and the home crowd booing, Fox made the switch. He gave Orton the bad news just before intermission while offensive coordinator Mike McCoy gave the good news to Tebow.

"Kyle's our guy," Broncos left guard Zane Beadles said. "And he's a good friend. Going through something like that is hard. But we all have a job to do, and our job is to protect the quarterback. Whoever they put back there at quarterback, we're going to protect him."

Initially, Tebow missed some passes he should have hit. And then he showed there is more to playing quarterback than passing. Down 26-10 with 8:54 remaining and the ball near midfield, running back Willis McGahee got 28 of his 125 yards — his third 100-yard rushing performance in four games — on the first play.

Tebow took it from there, rushing for 11 yards to the Chargers' 12-yard line, then scrambling into the end zone on the next play. McGahee ran in the two-point conversion and even though Tebow still had zero yards passing, the Broncos had closed the deficit to 26-18.

After Broncos defensive end Robert Ayers stripped the ball from Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, Tebow huddled up at the San Diego 41 with 4:38 remaining.

Again, Tebow and McGahee ran well on successive plays. Next, the southpaw flipped a screen pass to Knowshon Moreno, who charged down the right sideline for a 28-yard touchdown reception.

It was 26-24 Chargers with 3:19 remaining. The crowd erupted.

Know who was exchanging high- fives on the sidelines? Orton.

"Tim did a good job," Orton said.

But on the two-point conversion, Tebow's well-thrown fade pattern to Brandon Lloyd was stripped out of the receiver's hands and fell incomplete.

Rivers managed to take nearly three minutes off the clock while moving the Chargers to a game-clinching field goal. The three points became crucial because even though Tebow had only 24 seconds remaining and 80 yards to go, he made two long completions to the Chargers' 29.

With one second remaining, Tebow scrambled off the time before his throw into a crowded end zone was knocked down incomplete.

The Broncos lost. The fans streamed to the exits chanting, "Tebow! Tebow!"